Snow Cover

Chapter 5 Finishing Dinner

Julia's POV

Even with the extra details added into the explanation, I am even more surprised about this and that he would even want me to go with him. I feel his thumb caressing over my hand that he is nervously holding tight, waiting in anticipation for my answer. I am mulling his words over, just thinking about his question and if I should accept. "Oh good, so you're going to be the company I always dreamed of over there?" He states this sounding almost relieved, but that confuses me even more since I never gave an answer until I realized I am nodding.

I have no idea why I was nodding when I didn't even know what I wanted to do yet.. But as I stare over at the wave of relief taking over I know that I can't change my mind without hurting his feelings. "Oh... um.. yeah? Sure." I state with even more confusion in my mind and probably all over my features. I think he can tell this because the worry fills his orbs once more, making me feel bad about not even being remotely convincing in my response.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to." He sadly says this as I feel his hand loosening around mine, so I tighten my grip on his hand before it is gone while I am shaking my head. "No.. it's not that I don't want to.. I swear.. I was just surprised.. Normally you don't take trips with someone until you know them for a while, you know? And normally I plan these things out, to make sure I am prepared, but I haven't had any time for that.. Especially since I don't have that much money saved to take a trip to Colorado ski resort." I try to explain as best as I can.

"Oh.. ok.. For a second there, I was worried it was me that you didn't want to travel with. But in that case, don't worry about any of that. You wouldn't have to pay for a thing. I know it was at the very last minute, and it is not fair to plan this and expect you to pay for yourself. I just wanted the pleasure of your company, in this beautiful area, that could be the getaway that we both need in these stressful times." He states as find myself nodding once again because I do like the sound of that. I feel his thumb rubbing on my hand again with a big smile now plastered across his face.

My mind is reeling about all the details that I should probably know to go on this trip, so I ask. "Ok.. So.. How long will the trip be?" I find myself wondering what this whole trip might expect from me, since I have already thoughtlessly agreed.. Is he expecting me to spend a long time with him? Just us? Because I don't know if I could do that, I don't want to overwhelm myself with him when we are just in the early stages of getting to know one another.. But I do know that I could do a couple of days.

"It will be a weekend trip," he declares as I feel the wave of terror hitting me.. So it will be a couple of days. That's good because, like I said, I don't know how much more I could handle after that.. Wait.. Is he expecting s*x from me? Because we have kissed with an intensity showing we wanted to do more, but haven't done anything more. So I figure a trip away means a next step-up in the mental and physical relationship, right? I would have to spend the night with him in the same room and, I would assume, the same bed, which is terrifying.

"We will leave Friday night, stay Saturday and Sunday, then come back Monday morning.. Unless you want to stay there forever." He jokes as I giggle, then nervously nod thinking about what I have gotten myself into. "Uh.. I guess we will have to find out how much I love it and determine if we're ever coming back or not after that." I joke with him as we both laugh together before I say quickly. "Ok John.. I'm in." I say this with as much confidence in my tone that I could ever muster, even though this is hard to be confident about since I have never had anything like this happen to me before.

I feel anxious, wanting to change my mind instantly, but at the same time, I have been trying to get myself to try new things and this is definitely new. And when something is new, it will in return, make me uncomfortable from the unfamiliarity and I knew that initially when I decided to make these changes. So, I guess, what better way to dive head first into something new, then heading to a state I have never been to, and trying something completely new, with someone who is pretty new to me as well.

This is intriguing for me, peaking my interest as I sit and think about it, because I have never even been in the area of a skiing resort. I don't even know what they look like, let alone what to do at one.. I guess I'll be doing a lot of research tonight, while packing. "My only issue with this, is that I have never been to a ski resort.. So I don't know what to do.. Let alone, have anything I would need for such an endeavor." I explained as he waved his hand as if what I had said is not an issue in the slightest.

"Well then, if you allow me to, maybe I can pick you up tomorrow afternoon instead of tomorrow night, and we can make a trip to the store.. I need to update my skiing wardrobe, so I might as well get you something nice while we are there to help you out, so you don't freeze to death.. There are better ways to die than that." He says, chuckling at his own joke and I get his humor, so I giggle with him while nodding.

He clears his throat before he adds, "And to make things easier for you my dear, when we get to the resort, I will show you what to do and how to do it, so you won't get too hurt. But I cannot guarantee that there won't be pain because this is a workout, so I imagine that this whole weekend will be a fun workout for us for so many fun reasons." He states this in an alluring tone with a look in his eyes that says he means more to that comment than I was thinking.

I feel my face heating up at that possible s*xual innuendo, as I nodded a couple of times. That's nerve-racking altogether, but did slightly answer my question about what he expects from me. But I have been needing that type of release as well, so that doesn't sound like a bad idea when I will be in a beautiful new place with this handsome, charismatic man. I just can't help but to feel bad about the fact that he would be paying for me. I normally pay for myself for anything, so someone doing that much for me makes me feel bad automatically.

"Are you sure?" I ask as he looks confused by my inquiry, so I add some clarification. "Are you sure you're ok with paying for all of this for me.. It will be a pretty penny.. I just feel bad, as if I'm taking too much." At this point he is nodding more than I was before. "Yes, of course I'm sure.. Besides, you're not taking anything because I asked you to join me while knowing full well that I would be the one covering things since I'm the one that invited you to come.. That's common courtesy.. Besides, I can't just bring you to a place you have never been without preparing you for the situation. I would want to make sure you're taken care of. What kind of man would that make me if I didn't do that for you?" He states as I smile and nod.

I understand where he is coming from, so I get what he is saying, but that doesn't make me feel any better about him spending so much on me when we barely know one another. I'm not used to that kind of treatment, so it's always hard for me to accept it. "I get that.. I do.. I just don't want to put you out for something like this." I declare feeling almost selfish for even accepting this invitation. "No way, you're not putting me out at all.. I just really want you to come with me. I think this could be what we both need. I need this getaway. I have been stressed and this is how I take my stresses out." he has not only doubled down on his invite but now tripled down. So how at this rate could I even imagine shutting this down? I can't.

I smile and nod at that.. This sounds like it will be fun and I have a lot of built-up frustrations as well.. We all have our own ways of relieving stresses, so maybe this will be something that will help me out as much as it has helped him. "Okay.. As long as you say it's ok.. Then tomorrow afternoon we can head out.. And when I get home tonight, I will pack a bag, so that I'm ready to go." After that statement from me his smile automatically grows, nothing could take the smile off of this man's face. I am nervous, but his excitement is making me feel better about my decision.

The waitress brings our plates over, causing him to let go of my hand to make room as the pungent sweet aroma engulfs me, "Oh my, this smells amazing." I say while feeling my mouth water from the smell automatically. "I hope you like it.. I do think that it is amazing.. So much so that I feel that I need the recipe, so I can make it.. Maybe for you if you like it.. You know, after I go fishing this summer and get some fresh fish." He states as I smile at the fact that he is planning ahead with me in mind. He is making this with me sound like it's not just a one-night thing.. But maybe even a long-term thing.. Which is refreshing.

"I would like that.. Very much." I replied, making his smile even bigger before we started engulfing this. We began to eat our delectable meals as I find myself moaning out at the amazing flavors covering my tongue. It's better than it smells, and I never thought that was possible. With each bite of the fish that I place into my mouth, I feel it melting onto my tongue, and to say I love it is a complete understatement.

With the help of this amazing meal, the full bottle of wine and the great company, it's easy to enjoy the rest of the dinner together before topping it off with a dessert that we decided to share even though I'm stuffed. But I won't ever turn down a cheesecake, no matter how 'full' I am. The rest of our time here at the table was pleasant, filled with small talk and jokes, causing me to laugh most of the time. He is a delightful and charismatic man that even had the waitress laughing. So I guess I couldn't feel better about agreeing to go with him, no matter how nervous I am, because the butterflies within me won't stop fluttering.

We leave the restaurant after our fun time is completed with empty plates and empty glasses of wine. I think I drank more than I should have when I don't really drink at all.. I feel my body swaying only a little before I feel John's arm wrap over the small of my back before his hand lands on my hip and pulling me closer to him, keeping me steady as we get out of the comforting warmth of that busy place side by side.

I feel the crisp winter chill in the air as I flip my jacket over my body, slipping it on without hesitation, almost forgetting that it was winter time from how comfortable I felt inside at dinner. I see John in my peripherals doing the exact same as me while I keep myself as steady as possible, while the world sways around me.. Or maybe that's me and not the world around me.. Hard for me to tell. I shiver with the gust of wind that shoots past me as I feel my body shake for a brief moment.

I shook my head while instantly trying to keep some of the warmth I had accumulated from the busy restaurant we were just in. I automatically cross my arms trying to do this, as if they will prevent any heat from leaving while keeping the temperature from dropping within me by that one action alone. But I find out the hard way that it can only help so much with the warmth I already had.

Especially with the dress that I have on at the moment, because with a dress that does not cover up a bunch of my skin, I can't seem to keep the heat, let alone stay warm, no matter how hard I try. The warmth within me is fleeting with every chilled breeze that passes. I shiver as I feel a weight covering me, bringing some warmth around me. Surprised, I look to the side to notice that John has put his thick jacket over my shoulders.

That's incredibly sweet of him, especially since it is freezing out here right now with the wind picking up. I'm baffled by the fact that he would give me his jacket, especially since he only has his slacks, a button-up shirt and tie on, so there is no way he is warm in that outfit. And with how much the wind speed has picked up in the short span of time we have been out here, I can only assume that the wind will not be stopping anytime soon.